Limb holder

ABSTRACT

In harvesting fruit, individual limbs of a tree are vibrated at their natural frequency, or a harmonic, so the fruit is removed therefrom. The limb is clamped firmly in a V-notch holder with a gate resiliently held in place so the limb is not damaged when the vibrator is vibrating the limb, or when the limb, at its natural frequency, is vibrating the holder.

United States Patent Sitter 1451 Sept. 12, 1972 [54] LIMB HOLDER [72]Inventor: Spencer B. Sitter, Box 415,

McLean, Tex. 79057 [22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 113,928

[52] US. Cl ..56/328 [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lg 19/00 [58] Field of Search..56/328, 328 TS; 294/103 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,472,262 10/1923 Abildgaard ..56/328 TS 2,542,665 2/ 1951 Gustofson..56/328 TS 3,457,713 7/1969 Plummer ..56/328 TS FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 640,981 6/1962 Italy ..56/328 R Primary Examiner-Russell R.Kinsey Attorney-Charles W. Coffee [5 7] ABSTRACT In harvesting fruit,individual limbs of a tree are vibrated at their natural frequency, or aharmonic, so the fruit is removed therefrom. The limb is clamped firmlyin a V-notch holder with a gate resiliently held in place so the limb isnot damaged when the vibrator is vibrating the limb, or when the limb,at its natural frequency, is vibrating the holder.

22 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEB EP 2 2 3.690.052

sum 1 or 2 SPENCER B. SITTER INVENTOR.

PATENTED 3.690.052

sum 2 0F 2 SPENCER B. SITTER INVENTOR.

LIMB HOLDER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:'

This application discloses an improvement to my prior application, Ser.No. 49,077 to a Limb Shaker filed June 23, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to harvesting fruit and more particularly to a vibrator forvibrating the limbs of a tree to shake the fruit therefrom.

Heretofore, workers in the art have suggested that individual branchescould be shaken to shake the fruit from the tree. Examples of this areshown in Londo U.S. Pat. No. 3,174,269 and Plummer U.S. Pat. No.

Machines for this purpose are commercially on the market HomeliteHarvester Model XLI-I-I by, the

Homelite Division of Textron, Port Chester, New York.

The above references connect to the limb by V- shaped fingers which goover the limb. Also, my prior patent application discloses a similarattachment. My prior application also discloses the vibration of thelimb at the natural frequency of the limb for greater amplitude or vigorin the shaking with less power input..

Abildgaard U.S. Pat. No. 1,472,262 discloses a holder having a V-notchwith a gate clamp and the gate clamp held closed by a rope.

Of course similar clamps are found in other arts. e.g., Gaertner U.S.Pat. No. 1,052,234 discloses a similar clamp for holding test tubes.

Other prior art developments which might be of interest include FlecknerU.S. Pat. No. 1,337,398 and Wilcox U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,293.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION New and Different Function I have developed aclamp particularly designed to work in cooperation with my vibrator asdisclosed in my prior application. The clamp uses the same basic V-shaped fingers to fit over the limb. However, the limb is held withinthe'V-notch by a pivoted gate which in the open position isapproximately aligned with one of the fingers, but which can be closedby pulling on a cable which is attached to a spring connected to a spuron the gate. In this way the gate can be positively closed to hold thelimb in the V-notch, but the limb is not held in the V-notch by anon-yielding mechanism. I.e., the gate is resiliently held in place soit can yield.

This harvester or vibrator for trees is particularly adapted forremoving fruit from olive trees inasmuch as it is extremely difficult toremove the fruit from the tree; furthermore the trees are quite valuableand it is especially important not to damage the limbs of the tree. Theholder may be moved from one limb to another rapidly. I find thisparticularly necessary to prevent damage to valuable trees, such asolive, particularly when operating at a frequency which equals thenatural frequency of the limb. l.e., when the vibration is at thenatural frequency of the limb, the vibration of the limb is not forced,but merely induced by the vibrator and at such frequency, it isdifficult to say OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention isto shake fruit from the limb of a tree.

Another object is to hold the limb while inducing vibration in a mannerto effectively induce vibration to the limb and to prevent damage to thelimb.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy,compact durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, andreliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, operate, andmaintain. v

Still further objects are to achieve the above with a method that isversatile, rapid, efficient, and inexpensive, and does not requireskilled people to adjust, operate, and maintain.

Still further objects are to achieve the above with a method that isversatile, rapid, efficient, and inexpensive, and does not requireskilled people to adjust, operate, and maintain.

The specific nature of the invention, as-well as other objects, uses,and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the followingdescription and from the accompanying drawing, the different views ofwhich are not necessarily to the same scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of adevice according to this invention in use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the line holder portion of thedevice.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective detail of the latch for the cable ofthe device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the limb holder taken on line4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one limb holder bar takensubstantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT According to this disclosure,there is means for causing vibration which is depicted in FIG. 1 ashand-held internal combustion motor 10 which is attached to boom 12.Limb holder 14 on the end of the boom 12 engages limb 16 of a tree.Operation of a throttle (not shown) on the vibrator 10 causes it tochange speeds; therefore, changing the frequency of vibration of theboom 12. The boom 12 vibrates axially and induces vibrations into thelimb 16. The frequency of vibration produced by the vibrator 10 ischanged until the natural frequency (or a harmonic thereof) of the limbis reached. The operator knows when the natural frequency is reachedbecause of the amplitude or violence with which the limb vibrates. Thisvibration will cause the fruit upon the limb 16 to fall off.

The limb holder 14 includes V-shaped metal bar 20, the angle of the Vbeing about 45. The bar 20 is covered with tough, resilient material 22such as bicycle tires. I have found bicycle tires to be readilyavailable yet wear resistant and resilient so there is no harm clone tothe tree limbs. The covering 22 is held upon each of the legs or arms ofthe bar by clip 23. The clip is C-shaped in cross-section as seen ifFIG. 5, although it is elongated. The clips have a fold or bend whichpushes the covering 22 into a pair of diametrically opposed notches 27which extend the length of each bar 20. Likewise, covering 22 is held inplace over each gate portion 38 in this manner. It will be noted thatthe 45 angle of the V-shaped bar 20 is large enough so that the limbwill not become wedged in the V-notch. If the V-notch is less than about35, the limb will become wedged in the V and not readily removed, butmust be forced out.

The V-shaped bar 20 has one leg or arm connected to the end of the boomso the median line or the axis of the V (shown in dash-line 24, FIG. 4)is substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the boom12. Also, the axis 24 of the V is in the same plane as the axis of theboom 12, which means the V itself lies in the same plane. The connectionof the bar 20 to the boom 12 is about mid-point of one of the legs ofthe V; therefore, the vibrationof the holder 14 will be transverse theaxis 24.

The connection between the bar 20 and the boom 12 is by boxshaped metalstrap 26, as illustrated. One side 28 of box 26 is attached to the endof the boom 12 and opposite side 30 is attached to the bar 20 and theother two sides 32 have pin 34 extending through them. Latch or gate 36is pivoted by the pin 34 to the sides 32 of the box 26. The gateincludes main latch or gate pot tion 38 which is rubber covered andwhich, in the closed position, extends across the axis 24 of the V-shaped bar. In the closed position, gate portion 38 is like thecross-bar of a capital A. Therefore, with a limb within the V-notch, thegate or retainer 38 holds the limb in place. When the gate 36 is open,the gate portion 38 extends from one of the sides of the V so the limbholder 14 can be readily placed over the limb 16.

Spur 40 on the gate 36 shapes the entire gate 36 to resemble a bellcrank. Helical tension spring 42 is attached to the end of the spur 40.

Specifically referring to the structure of the gate 36, it is biforcatedwith the bight 44 being at the end of the spur 40, and the gate portions38 extend to the outside of the box 26, all as illustrated in thedrawing. The spring 42 is attached through an eye of clip 46 which isattached to bight 44.

Cord or cable or other flexible tension element 48 is attached by snap50 to one end of the spring 42, the other end of the spring 42 beingattached to the spur 40 of the gate 36. The cable 48 extends along theboom 12 through guides (not shown for clarity) to loop 54 on the end ofthe cable 48. This loop 54 is adapted to fit around the wrist of theoperator. The cable 48 also has a ferrule or protuberance 56, whichworks in connection with catch 58 on the boom. l have found braidednylon cord a satisfactory material for the cable 48. I

Open spring 60 extends from the bight 44 of the spur 40 around pin 34 tothe boom side 28 of the box 26 and operates to bias the gate portion 38in the open position. The open spring 60 is a much weaker spring thanthe spring 42.

OPERATION When the cable 48 (which is an operator for the spring 42) isrelaxed, the gate 36 is open. The holder 14 is placed over a limb so thelimb 16 goes into the open V. The portion 38 of the gate. can be used tohelp guide the limb 16 into the V. As soon as it is in place, and withthe loop 56 around the wrist of the person holding the machine, themovement of the wrist downward will cause the spring 42 to exert tensionupon the spur 40 which will close the gate portion 38. The protuberance56 can be brought over catch 58 so the gate 36 is held by apredetermined amount of strain upon the helical spring 42 and therefore,there will be a predetermined amount of force or tension or stress uponthe gate portion 38 holding the limb 16 within the notch.

If the engine has not been previously started, the holder 14 will holdthe entire mechanism onto the limb 16 while the engine is started. Afterthe mechanism is started, the speed of the vibrator 10 is adjusted untilthe natural or a harmonic frequency of the limb 16 is reached and thefruit shaken from the limb. After the fruit is shaken from the limb andthe speed of the vibrator 10 is reduced and if the person operating themechanism needs to perform some other chore or task, he can leave theentire mechanism hanging from the tree during the time of performingsome other task. It is emphasized that the gate 36 will exert sufficientpres.- sure or tension upon the limb 16 to hold the mechanism in place,but it will not be unyielding so as to damage the limb 16.

Thereafter, as soon as the operator is ready to remove the limb holder14 from the limb 16, movement of his wrist in the loop 54 will removethe protuberance 56 from the catch 58 and then relaxation of the tensionupon the cable 48 will cause relaxation of the spring 42, which willpermit open spring 60 to open the gate portion 38 and the V portion ofthe holder 14 comes loose from the limb. It is again emphasized that theangle of the V is such that the limb 16 will not be held in the holder14 by friction. Thereafter, the person harvesting the fruits from thetree moves the holder on to another limb to shake the fruit from thatlimb.

The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do notclaim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described.Various modifications can be made in the construction, material,arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of myinvention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patentprotection are measured by and defined in the following claims. Therestrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do notpoint out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are toenable the reader to make and use the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of engaging a limb to shake fruit therefrom comprising a.engaging the limb with a holder having three parts,

b. two of such parts being rigidly attached together to form a V,

c. the engagement of the limb with the two rigid parts being such thatthe limb is not frictionally held within the. angle of the V,

d. holding the limb within the V portion with a gate,

e. resiliently urging the gate toward the apex of the V, thus f.resiliently holding the limb adjacent to the apex of the V, and

g. vibrating the holder with the direction of vibration being transverseto the axis of the V.

2. In a limb shaker including a. a boom connected to b. vibration meansfor axially vibrating the boom,

c. the improved limb holder connected to the end of the boom comprising:

(1. a V-shaped bar member having legs or arms,

e. the axis of the V being transverse to the longitudinal axis of theboom,

f. a retaining gate pivoted relative to the bar member,

g. the gate extending across the opening of the V when closed, and

h. extending in alignment with one leg of the V when open,

j. a spur on the gate,

k. an operating member moveably mounted on the boom,

m. close spring means having two ends for biasing the gate closed,

It. one end of the closing spring means attached to the spur,

o. the other end of the closing spring means is attached to theoperating member, so that p. movement of the operating member in onedirection relaxes the closing spring means to allow the gate to open andq. movement of the operating member in the other direction tensions theclosing spring means to bias the gate closed.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said vibration means isfurther r. means for vibrating a limb attached in the holder at itsnatural frequency.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 with the additional limitation ofr. open spring means interconnecting the gate and the holder for biasingthe gate open.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2 with the additional limitation ofr. the axis bisecting the V-shaped bar member being at about rightangles to the axis of the boom.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2 with the additional limitationsof r. said closing spring means being an elongated helical spring and s.said operating member being a cable extending along the boom.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 with the additional limitation oft. a loop on the end of the cable to fit around a wrist of a personholding the limb shaker.

8. The invention as defined in claim 6 with the additional limitationsof t. a catch on the boom,

u. a protuberance on the cable so the cable may be latched to the catchin position to maintain the closing spring means in tension.

9. The invention as defined in claim 2 with the additional limitation ofr. the V-shaped bar member forming an angle of about 45. 10. Theinvention as defined in claim 2 with the additional li itation of r. saiV-shaped bar member forming an angle greater than that wherein frictionwould prevent removal of a limb therefrom.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 with the additional limitationof s. open spring means interconnecting the gate and the holder forbiasing the gate open.

12. The invention as defined in claim 10 with the additional limitationof s. the axis bisecting the V-shaped bar member being at about rightangles to the axis of the boom.

13. The invention as defined in claim 10 with the additional limitationsof s. said closing spring means being an elongated helical spring and t.said operating member being a cable extending along the boom.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13 with the additional limitationof u. a loop on the end of the cable to fit around a wrist of a personholding the limb shaker.

15. The invention as defined in claim 13 with the additional limitationsof v. a catch on the boom,

w. a protuberance on the cable so the cable may be latched in positionto maintain the closing spring means in tension.

16. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said vibration means isfurther s. means for vibrating a limb attached to the holder at itsnatural frequency.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 with the additional limitationof t. open spring means interconnecting the gate and the holder forbiasing the gate open.

18. The invention as defined in claim 17 with the additional limitationof u. the axis bisecting the V-shaped bar member being at about rightangles to the axis of the boom.

19. The invention as defined in claim 18 with the additional limitationsof v. said closing spring means being an elongated helical spring and w.said operating member being a cable extending along the boom.

20. The invention as defined in claim 19 with the additional limitationof x. a loop on the end of the cable to fit around a wrist of a personholding the limb shaker.

21. The invention as defined in claim 20 with the additional limitationsof y. a catch on the boom,

2. a protuberance on the cable so the cable may be latched in positionto maintain the closing spring means in tension.

22. The invention as defined in claim 21 with the additional limitationof aa. the V-shaped bar member forming an angle of about 45.

1. The method of engaging a limb to shake fruit therefrom comprising a.engaging the limb with a holder having three parts, b. two of such partsbeing rigidly attached together to form a V, c. the engagement of thelimb with the two rigid parts being such that the limb is notfrictionally held within the angle of the V, d. holding the limb withinthe V portion with a gate, e. resiliently urging the gate toward theapex of the V, thus f. resiliently holding the limb adjacent to the apexof the V, and g. vibrating the holder with the direction of vibrationbeing transverse to the axis of the V.
 2. In a limb shaker including a.a boom connected to b. vibration means for axially vibrating the boom,c. the improved limb holder connected to the end of the boom comprising:d. a V-shaped bar member having legs or arms, e. the axis of the V beingtransverse to the longitudinal axis of the boom, f. a retaining gatepivoted relative to the bar member, g. the gate extending across theopening of the V when closed, and h. extending in alignment with one legof the V when open, j. a spur on the gate, k. an operating membermoveably mounted on the boom, m. close spring means having two ends forbiasing the gate closed, n. one end of the closing spring means attachedto the spur, o. the other end of the closing spring means is attached tothe operating member, so that p. movement of the operating member in onedirection relaxes the closing spring means to allow the gate to open andq. movement of the operating member in the other direction tensions theclosing spring means to bias the gate closed.
 3. The invention asdefined in claim 2 wherein said vibration means is further r. means forvibrating a limb attached in the holder at its natural frequency.
 4. Theinvention as defined in claim 2 with the additional limitation of r.open spring means interconnecting the gate and the holder for biasingthe gate open.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 2 with theadditional limitation of r. the axis bisecting the V-shaped bar memberbeing at about right angles to the axis of the boom.
 6. The invention asdefined in claim 2 with the additional limitations of r. said closingspring means being an elongated helical spring and s. said operatingmember being a cable extending along the boom.
 7. The invention asdefined in claim 6 with the additional limitation of t. a loop on theend of the cable to fit around a wrist of a person holding the limbshaker.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 6 with the additionallimitations of t. a catch on the boom, u. a protuberance on the cable sothe cable may be latched to the catch in position to maintain theclosing spring means in tension.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 2with the additional limitation of r. the V-shaped bar member forming anangle of about 45*.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 2 with theadditionaL limitation of r. said V-shaped bar member forming an anglegreater than that wherein friction would prevent removal of a limbtherefrom.
 11. The invention as defined in claim 10 with the additionallimitation of s. open spring means interconnecting the gate and theholder for biasing the gate open.
 12. The invention as defined in claim10 with the additional limitation of s. the axis bisecting the V-shapedbar member being at about right angles to the axis of the boom.
 13. Theinvention as defined in claim 10 with the additional limitations of s.said closing spring means being an elongated helical spring and t. saidoperating member being a cable extending along the boom.
 14. Theinvention as defined in claim 13 with the additional limitation of u. aloop on the end of the cable to fit around a wrist of a person holdingthe limb shaker.
 15. The invention as defined in claim 13 with theadditional limitations of v. a catch on the boom, w. a protuberance onthe cable so the cable may be latched in position to maintain theclosing spring means in tension.
 16. The invention as defined in claim10 wherein said vibration means is further s. means for vibrating a limbattached to the holder at its natural frequency.
 17. The invention asdefined in claim 16 with the additional limitation of t. open springmeans interconnecting the gate and the holder for biasing the gate open.18. The invention as defined in claim 17 with the additional limitationof u. the axis bisecting the V-shaped bar member being at about rightangles to the axis of the boom.
 19. The invention as defined in claim 18with the additional limitations of v. said closing spring means being anelongated helical spring and w. said operating member being a cableextending along the boom.
 20. The invention as defined in claim 19 withthe additional limitation of x. a loop on the end of the cable to fitaround a wrist of a person holding the limb shaker.
 21. The invention asdefined in claim 20 with the additional limitations of y. a catch on theboom, z. a protuberance on the cable so the cable may be latched inposition to maintain the closing spring means in tension.
 22. Theinvention as defined in claim 21 with the additional limitation of aa.the V-shaped bar member forming an angle of about 45*.